At NWRA 14th Ordinary Session: Fon Azehfor III Decries Rapid Disappearance Of Wetlands


Fon Azehfor III Of Nkwen At The Session


By Raymond Dingana 

The existence of wetlands especially rafia farms around the town of Bamenda have continued to be threatened by the population, and to an extent the judiciary.

Not even traditional methods to save the wetlands are applied by traditional authorities have worked, Fon Azehfor III told the Assembly.

Decrying the situation of wetlands especially rafia farms in his area of command, Monday April 7, 2024, HRM Fon Azehfor III, who is also a member of the North West House of Chiefs said the situation is dire.

Hi indicated that rafia bushes are being transformed in to residential areas with the judiciary not helping matters.

"The rafia farms are disappearing, thereby threatening the constant flow of portable water. Most often than not when we what to use the traditional methods to protect the rafia farms, the preparators resort to the judiciary whereby the quarter head or notable is summoned to appear before the state council, and this hasn't help,"  laments Fon Azehfor III.

He noted that fresh palm wine used in traditional circles come from the rafia farms and that if nothing is done and fast,wetlands, and rafia bushes would disappear to the detriment of the population.

"It is my humble plea before this honorable house given that the judicial bench is heavily represented, to work in synergy to see how we can protect wetlands, otherwise we would have our eyes to weep in the nearest future," said HRM.

Man is noted for being the highest destroyer of the environment, reason why man's activities not friendly to the environment are discouraged.

The Mile 6 Nkwen area that used to have a huge wetland and rafia farms is undergoing massive destruction with impunity, happening under the watchful eyes of the North West Administration.

The cry for the protection of wetlands is coming months after Cameroon, and the world at large observed World Wetlands Day with the theme: "Wetlands And Wellbeing."

In 2023, a young environmental ambassador, Audrey Njonwi Sanda addressed an opened letter to Fongu Cletus Tanwe of Bamenda III titled urgent need to stop pollution, land reclamation and deforestation in the municipality.

"Sir, the reclamation of wetland is very alarming in our municipality. International conventions forbid the reclaiming of marshy land but in Bamenda III, raffia bushes are cut down everyday, giving way to construction of houses,"  reads a portion of the letter.

If the Fon of Nkwen is coming up with the same problem, it would appear the Bamenda III Council didn't react to this letter the way it should have.

A school of thought holds that to arrest the destruction of wetlands, authorities should stop issuing building permits on such areas, while others think that heavy jail terms be meted on those that go against the protection of wetlands.

www.drayinfoals.com





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